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A Wauwatosa school board member who hopes to rescind the district's updated human growth and development curriculum is now suing the school board he serves on, alleging the board broke open meeting laws while working on adoption of the curriculum. has identified those standards as the foundation for school districts, Wisconsin law says a district can decide itself, Wauwatosa school board member sues his own board after it approved new gender identity curriculum, Sponsored: Winter Homeowner Tips; How To Prevent Frozen Pipes, MPM Announces Permanent Exhibits at New Museum, Federal Inflation Reduction Act Could Add 24,000 Jobs in Wisconsin, AG Kaul Hosts Legislators at Wisconsin State Crime Laboratories, Advocates for Investment in Crime Fighting Budget, The Pabst Theater Group Raises $60,000 for Local Charities, Eyes on Milwaukee: Train Car Bar Being Demolished, Transportation: Airport Will Rip Out Two Runways, Mayor Johnsons Plan to Nearly Double Milwaukees Population, The State of Politics: Evers Brewers Aid Plan Spooks Republicans, Baldwin Reintroduces Bicameral Legislation Expanding Rights of Airplane Passengers with Disabilities, K-12 Education: Open Enrollment Plummeting at MPS, Op Ed: Enslaved Workers May Be Making Your Breakfast, Transportation: BRT Grant Could Fund Downtown Plaza, Tiffany Tardy Named New Executive Director of MPS Foundation, DWD Announces Appointments of Jeremy Simon as Assistant Deputy Secretary, Arielle Exner as Legislative Liaison. I've known Mike for the majority of that time as our kids have grown up and progressed through the school system together. Similar curriculum has also been discussed and debated by other Wisconsin communities. That same night, in a 5-2 secret-ballot vote, Wauwatosa School Board re-elected Doman as board president. My career has taught me how to listen, negotiate, problem-solve and get results. The principal's email said the students involved will face discipline according to the district's disciplinary framework. Although the group does not have a chapter in Milwaukee or Waukesha counties, it does have chapters in nearby Ozaukee, Racine and Kenosha counties. Evan Casey . State law also says parents can opt their child out of that instruction. He coached with the program for 5 years. The Wauwatosa School Board is a policy and governance board. It will be a continued honor to work with our educators, students, caregivers, and greater community to enhance students' learning experiences and achievement outcomes., Mr. Pinion brings to this role more than 18 years of expertise in supporting the physical, emotional and behavioral needs of others. In a trend that started in 2021, and has come to define the start of the 2022-23 school year, the Wauwatosa school district has endured a spate of disciplinary issues while also seeing increased political tensions affect board members and teachers. more, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. "No parent wants their child doing these things," said Michael Meier, Wauwatosa School Board member. His experience includes six years in an assistant principal role in the Kenosha Unified School District, and 21 years serving as a principal at the elementary and middle school levels in School District 54 in Schaumburg, Illinois. We want Wauwatosa students to go out into the world and achieve anything they set their minds to. The committees strived to create a curriculum that would be acceptable to the whole community. This ad will close automatically in 15 seconds. John Larry. Former board member Mary Jo Randall sent FOX6 the email she sent Doman Wednesday morning, asking for his home address. The District will also be hiring for several other key positions in the coming months, including a Director of Instruction, Director of Student Success and Director of Diversity and Inclusion, as well as a School Performance Data Coordinator, Behavioral Specialist, Grant Specialist and Academic Specialists. Wauwatosa schools issued a statement which can be read on the district website. One protest, put together by Wauwatosa residents on Facebook, was organized to support the curriculum and LGBTQ+ students in the district. Wauwatosa School District Announces New Members of Leadership Team On Monday, March 14, 2022, the Wauwatosa School District Board of Education approved Superintendent Dr. Demond Means' recommendation to appoint the following members of its leadership team: Mr. Tahir Abdelmawla, Underwood Elementary School Principal Hours Per Week: 36. The lawsuit alleges this violated open meeting laws because the board made public decisions in a closed setting. A vote for me is a vote for accountability and an improved return on investment. Mike Meier alleges open meetings violation in approval of gender identity curriculum. The lawsuit also names past board president Steve Doman as a defendant. In 2021, classes were disrupted after police found that a student had brought a box cutter and a handgun to Wauwatosa West High School. The police investigation, while resulting in no criminal charges, said the school board "failed to act.". State law also says parents can opt their child out of that instruction. I also take great pride in my previous work as a mentor/crisis stabilizer for at-risk youth, skill-building to achieve their personal goals and help them make healthier decisions. More details on the grade-by-grade outlook can be found atbit.ly/TosaHumanGrowthandDevelopment. Parents. Dr. Marble states, As a community member and parent of students in the Wauwatosa School District, I know that academic excellence for all students is a top priority. He is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Philosophy: Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Quick Links. Board members echoed the district's sentiments and said they are eager to keep their focus on academic affairs, however, the attorney for the district, Lori Lubinsky, said she has full confidence that the suit will be dismissed. The 6-1 vote came late Monday as anxious attendees, spilling out of the crowded boardroom, awaited a decision after nearly four hours of discussion on the topic by students, teachers, caregivers. Follow himon Twitter at @Beck_Salgado. Learn more. One bill that was introducedwould require schools to inform parents and guardians when they provide a program related to gender, gender expression, gender identity or sexual orientation. I feel like our community is taking a big step in doing this, Robertstad said. Last year, Wisconsins Republican-controlled Legislature introduced multiple bills that centered on LGBTQ youth. That same school board member is now calling for an independent investigation into the fighting. Then on Tuesday, Feb. 15, Wauwatosa police say there was a fight between a parent and students at Wauwatosa East High School. He was the only school board member to vote against the update in August. The curriculum's approval process proved that Wauwatosa is no exception to the rising toxicity in school board meetings as various meetings have been targeted, before and after the approval of the curriculum, by right-wing groups from outside communities such as Moms for Liberty and Gays Against Groomers. I am beyond excited to join a district with such a clear sense of community and commitment to all students, stated Mr. Pinion. "I ask you all to consider asking him to resign from the school board," she continued. In one instance in 2021, former school board president Doman decided to resign from the board after receiving an email that he said made him feel threatened. Throughout his career, Mr. Brightman has earned a reputation as a thoughtful, analytical and strategic thinker who is well-respected across the state of Wisconsin. 2022-23 At a Glance Calendar; Engagement Sessions; Enrollment; Family Technology Helpdesk; School Board. Open government attorneys say the school board may have violated the law. Wauwatosa School District - 12121 W. North Ave. Wauwatosa, WI 53226, 12121 W. North Ave. | Wauwatosa, WI 53226 | (414) 773-1000. In May 2022, an attorney for board member Mike Meier sent the school district a letter claiming the school board discussed a FOX6 public records request in secret. One bill that was introduced would require schools to inform parents and guardians when they provide a program related to gender, gender expression, gender identity or sexual orientation. He then served as Underfilling Assistant Principal before joining the Wauwatosa School District in 2020 as Associate Principal of Longfellow Middle School. As a community, I know that we will continue to provide all of our students the enriching academic and social experience they deserve. I'm extremely confident Mike would be an excellent addition to the school board! Words were exchanged at different times during the simultaneous demonstrations, but a police presence was able to ensure nothing escalated past verbal jabs. A suggestion by Meier to create a new curriculum for the students of parents who disliked the updated one failed, 5-2. This is Meiers third attempt to have the curriculum shut down. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science in Education degree from the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater, where he also received NASP Accreditation to serve as an Education Specialist in School Psychology. She brings more than 14 years of progressively-responsible experience to this role, including eight years as a classroom teacher and member of school leadership committees in Mukwonago, two years as Associate Principal of Wauwatosa East High School, two years as Principal of Madison Elementary School and two years as Director of Secondary Education for the Wauwatosa School District. Wauwatosa. The District used this information to develop school profiles, which were then used to assess applicants and identify the top candidates for each position. A district documentsaid that curriculum must be reviewed every three years per a school board policy. right-wing groups from outside communities such as Moms for Liberty and Gays Against Groomers. It would also add picture books that present more diverse backgrounds. Lubinsky also mentioned that in 25 years of practicing law she had never seen a situation where a member of a board sued that same board. I look forward to working collectively to support the students, staff, and community in continuing to make Wauwatosa a great place to learn, work, and live., Mr. Stephen Kern has been appointed as the Principal of Jefferson Elementary School. The complaint, filed by Michael Meier, claims that the School Board violated Wisconsin open meetings laws five times from 2021 on and, in the case of the approved curriculum, would meet in secret to exclude Meier from conversations about the topic. Mr. Abdelmawla served in the United States Army before launching his career in education at the Golda Meir School in Milwaukee, where he spent several years delivering classroom instruction before moving into the role of School Culture and Climate Specialist and, simultaneously, High School Athletic Director. Copyright 2002-2023 Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. In these roles, Mrs. Zelazoski has increased teacher retention by 8%, increased employer net promoter scores (eNPS) by 58 points and increased employee racial/ethnic diversity by 4%. Michael Meier said that, as an individual, he supportedthe plan, but as a representative on the school board, he hadworries. In 2021, the district learned that it had not been reviewed in 10 years, so they decided to initiate a new review process. Have questions? It was done by an attorney at a law firm in Waukesha. As he contemplated a transition to his preferred gender, he said, he received no education or information from the school district about what he was experiencing. As school board elections near, they're finding other ways to be heard. Keep updated on the latest news and information. Copyright © 2002 - var currentTime = new Date();var year = currentTime.getFullYear();document.write(year); Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. In an email to Superintendent Demond Means on Wednesday night, Doman wrote: "I received an email today that I can only perceive as a threat to the safety of myself and my family. He also received an Endorsement for English as a Second Language from Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Illinois. 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